Take Two

Game 10: Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs, June 3, 2018

Leafs win 11-5

A win there, and a win here.

The Toronto Maple Leafs swept a home-and-home weekend series against the Guelph Royals with an 11-5 win on Sunday at Christie Pits.

Under increasingly grey skies, Zach Sloan took to the mound for his fifth Sunday start of the season, and he served up another win. Sloan went six innings, giving up four earned runs off of seven hits and two walks, while striking out four. It was more than enough, as the Leafs battered Guelph pitching for 14 hits and 11 runs.

It was a rare game at the Pits in that no home runs were hit by either team. Instead, the Leafs relied on speed and big hits to forge the win.

They got things going in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Dan Marra led off with a single off Guelph starter Yomar Concepcion. Rightfielder Daniel Szpik was up next, and he reached first on a grounder that eliminated Marra at second. Centerfielder Connor Lewis then hit a roaring triple to drive in Szpik and put the Leafs on the board first, 1-0 after two.

The Royals jumped into the lead in the top of the third. Sloan gave up a pair of singles, and both runners scored on a two-run single by DH Sean Reilly. 

Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third. After third baseman Johnathan Solazzo walked and Dan Marra singled, Szpik reached safely on an error and Solazzo scored. Leftfielder Greg Carrington then stroked a two-hit double to drive in Marra and Szpik. It was Carrington's second double in as many days. As he had the day before in Guelph, Carrington marked it with some stylish air guitar after the play. I want to believe that he's playing the opening lick from "When Doves Cry."

We may never know. Immediately after that, Lewis capped things off with a single that scored Carrington, making it a 5-2 ballgame for the home side.

Bottom of the fourth, two more runs for Toronto. Catcher Mike Reeves walked and first baseman Justin Marra singled. Solazzo followed with a single that plated Reeves. An error and a wild pitch later, Justin crossed the plate and it was a 7-2 lead for the Leafs.

The Royals battled back in the top of the fifth with three runs on three hits and an error.

The Leafs counterpunched in the bottom of the inning with two more runs. Lewis singled, then moved to third on a hit by second baseman Grant Tamane. With Reeves at the plate, Tamane stole second (above). Reeves flew out, but Justin Marra drove in both baserunners with a two-run single. 9-5 home side through five.

Sloan pitched a scoreless sixth before handing the ball over to Nick DaSilva, who gave up a pair of singles but struck out three in the seventh.

Pinch hitter Zac Orchard led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and stolen base. Reeves drove him in with a single to make it a 10-5 ballgame.

DH Marcus Knecht led off the bottom of the eighth for Toronto with a single. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Orchard. 11-5 Leafs.

Adam Marra pitched the final two innings for Toronto, giving up just one hit to nail down the 11-5 FINAL. It was a victory driven from the bottom of the order, as Szpik, Carrington, Lewis (and Orchard) combined for six hits and six RBIs. This is what it sounds like, when Royals cry.


Guelph 5-10-2
Toronto 11-14-4

W - Sloan (4-1, 3.21)
L - Concepcion (1-1, 6.56)


BOXSCORE


The Leafs lead the IBL with seven wins to start the season. They will put their 7-3 record up against the Barrie Baycats next on Wednesday night, June 6th at Christie Pits.